Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2022 i BIKE India

WHEN WE SPEAK OF PERFORMANCE tuning, the very first name that comes to mind is that of Brabus, among the most successful ones out there. A ludicrous German tuner who has been excelling in extracting utmost performance from Mercedes-AMG cars for the longest time has now set foot into the two-wheeler space. And, of course, as always, it is the Brabus way. Say hello to the Brabus 1300 R. Well, for starters, the tuner has joined hands with the Austrian bikemaker, KTM, to build a limited-edition version of the KTM 1290 Super Duke R, dubbed the Brabus 1300 R. All the bodywork from Daddy Duke has been replaced with all-new carbon-fibre laden headlight mask, air ducts, belly-pan, under-tray, front fender, brake cooling ducts, and nine-inch forged aluminium wheels. Apart from…

IMPROVING AN ALREADY EXCELLENT BIKE IS A DIFFICULT job. However, as Ducati inform us, ‘this is the most significant development since its birth’. The stop-watch does not lie. During exclusive consecutive testing with the 2021 and 2022 models, two testers joined official Ducati test-rider Michele Pirro on track. By the end of the day, one rider improved by 0.9 seconds, the second by 1.2 seconds, and Pirro by 0.5. In fact, Pirro was only three seconds slower than the lap-time set during race one in the highly competitive Italian Superbike Championship. Ducati have chopped lap-times, especially so for less inexperienced riders, by improving the aerodynamic package, ergonomics, engine, chassis, and rider aids. Interestingly, Ducati staged a similar trick on the 2020 model, making it easier to ride than the previous…

ONCE IN A WHILE, IT IS REFRESHING to see something purposeful and functional. Visually, the Yezdi Scrambler is exactly like that because it makes no attempt at hiding its intentions. This is clearly a motorcycle that is open to more than just tarmac riding; it promises to be fun off-road too. The Scrambler is the most desirable of the trio being discussed here and it has grabbed utmost attention on our social media channels. It is easy to see why. To begin with, there is nothing that looks quite like it in this segment. Yezdi have hit the nail on the head with the styling (again). The raised front mudguard, headlamp protector, curvy tank, and minimal tail only add to the menacing stance provided by the 19-inch front and 17-inch…

TORK MOTORS HAVE BEEN EAGERLY waiting to launch its first electric motorcycle. The Pune-based start-up was not able to launch its EV since its first announcement in 2016 due to delays caused by various reasons. Now, after a nearly six-year-long wait, the company has finally launched its first electric bike. It was earlier named the “T6X”, but now bears the moniker “Kratos”. Two variants of the bike and four colour options are on offer. A few mechanical changes distinguish the standard model from the R variant. At first glance, the design is fairly attractive with sharp lines around the bodywork, an inverted triangular LED headlight unit, and a sharp rear end. However, after a few minutes with the motorcycle it became apparent that the quality of fit and finish was…

BMW HAVE metamorphosed concept into reality with the dramatic all-electric CE 04. Using BMW car technology, this stunning A2 electric scooter is all new for 2022, boasting of a top speed of 120 km/h, 0 to 50 km/h in 2.6 seconds, and a fast charge time of one hour and 40 minutes from 0 to 100 per cent. BMW first unveiled their daring and dramatic CE 04 as a styling exercise back in 2017. However, I do not think even the most devoted BMW supporter would have envisioned that the production bike would be so like those daring early sketches. BMW stuck to their guns, allowed the designers free rein, and produced a bike that looks as if it is 10 years ahead of its time, like a prop for…

Bajaj Pulsar NS200 I was the first to pick the key to the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 not because it’s the oldest here (just like me), but I’ve actually owned a first-gen one which was launched about a decade ago. Not much has changed since then, yet it still manages to look modern and attractive among the younger crowd. Now the frame is dipped in white and so are the wheels, hinting at the mid-life crisis the NS is going through. The Pulsar NS200 is among the bigger motorcycles here offering more room to taller riders. Average Indians might find the 805-millimetre seat height to be on the higher side. The semi-digital instrument console might look dated but has an old-school charm to it. What needs improvement is the fit, finish,…

ROYAL ENFIELD Storm Raider Riding Jacket A new category under Royal Enfield “Make It Yours” platform is called “MYO” (Make Your Own). With this programme, Royal Enfield allow riders a more personalized shopping experience across their range of riding gear. We were on the lookout for a good touring jacket and so we selected the “Storm Raider” jacket shell. This one is made of 600 D, rainproof, polyester fabric and sports a simple but attractive colour combination of grey, black, and white. For the protective layers inside, we selected the D30 (level 2) impact protectors for the shoulders, elbows, and the back and the one option available for chest protection: Knox (level 1) armour. We also inserted an inner thermal layer for winter protection as well as a rain liner…

THERE IS NO WAY TO AVOID the most obvious aspect of the Yezdi Adventure because it has been a topic of discussion since the time it was spotted being tested ahead of the launch. Since then, comments about the familiarity of its design have been abundant. So, I am not going to waste your time contributing to that. Yezdi-specific elements on this motorcycle are minimal as compared to the other two models and the Adventure differs from the others in three distinct ways. It has only one silencer, it is the only Yezdi motorcycle that gets Bluetooth connectivity as an option, and it has a monoshock at the rear. The interesting bit is that all these unique features are particularly relevant to this motorcycle’s primary intent, overlanding. Oh, there is…

THERE’S NO DENYING THAT electric vehicles are the next big thing in the Indian market. While it is still to be confirmed whether they are sustainable or not, a large number of manufacturers are trying to put their best foot forward in an effort to offer customers a practical and feature-rich vehicle as an alternative to their ICE vehicle. However, the one big issue that the Indian electric scooter market faces is that there are two ends of the spectrum — at one end there are the entry-level scooters with mediocre build quality and not-so-promising features and, on the other, there are those who seek to set a benchmark in this nascent segment. There hasn’t been a scooter among those we’ve seen which sits right in the middle of this…

FOR A MOTORCYCLIST, BUYING their first big bike is an unforgettable experience. The memory remains etched forever. We bring together the best from the big league and we’ll tell you exactly which one to buy. Starring in this comparative test is the Kawasaki Z650RS, the latest neo-retro to reach our shores and powered by a practical parallel-twin; the Triumph Trident 660 that’s equipped with a versatile three-cylinder; and the Honda CB650R which boasts of a full-blown in-line four. It’s amazing how the three have such different styling approaches. The Z650RS takes inspiration from Kawasaki’s rich heritage, especially the iconic Z1 from the 1970s, right from the teardrop-shaped fuel-tank, the lovely Candy Emerald Green colour, circular headlamp and mirrors, and the analogue twin-pod instrument cluster. Even the alloy wheels come with…

MOTORCYCLE manufacturers have been pushing the barriers of technology far over the past couple of decades. This bar was raised by Honda with the CBR1100XX (also known as the Blackbird) back in 1996. This was taken forward by Suzuki with the GSX1300R Hayabusa and, since then, almost all major motorcycle manufacturers have been in this race of building the quickest and fastest motorcycles. Here is an overview of all of the super motorcycles one can buy in India. APRILIA RSV4 APRILIA’S FLAGSHIP superbike might have been one of the last motorcycles to have been updated in the global market, but the Noale boys have made it to the 200-horsepower club. For 2022, the motorcycle has been revised with a new front end, fixed winglets, and a 1,100-cc V4 engine pounding…

THE FIRST TIME I MET REMY Gardner was in February 2011. I was in Australia to do a series of interviews with Aussie racing legends: his dad Wayne, Mick Doohan, Casey Stoner, Troy Bayliss, and the 1960s 500-cc GP winner, Jack Ahearn. We arrived at the Gardner residence, perched grandly atop the cliffs overlooking Manley beach in northern Sydney, just as Remy returned from a swimming expedition, with surfboard and speargun in hand. Right away it was obvious — this kid enjoys action. Remy and his dad had recently completed their first season of racing in Europe, commuting back and forth from Australia to take in rounds of the 125 Metrakit Mediterranean championship and a few other races. Remy, 12 at the time, had finished the series second overall, but…

AS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THESE COLUMNS earlier, we recently installed a pair of CEAT Zoom Rad X1 rubber on my 2016 KTM 390 Duke. Before I knew it, the tyres had already crossed the breaking-in period and they were all set to take on the twisties. The idea is to understand how these tyres perform under hard riding. Over the last month, I have been using the bike within the city as well as for occasional weekend rides and have clocked approximately 2,000 kilometres. Here’s how they’ve coped thus far. Within the city, the tyres have been performing well and remain composed over varying road conditions. What’s most impressive is that they provide positive feedback from the front end while the bike is tipped over and even under hard…

SOME SONGS NEVER die. They even survive long enough to connect people from different generations. An old tune that was being hummed by the father while driving his son to school could immediately find favour in the impressionable mind of the latter. Many years down the line, both of them could be singing the same song and enjoying it. With their revival (and through their advertisements), Yezdi boldly emphasize that connection across generations, even hinting that the Roadster touches upon the “bad boy” (or girl) side of things. My mission was to find out if Yezdi have recreated an evergreen classic to contemporary standards or if the Roadster is just a walk down memory lane. As the name and the motorcycle’s low-slung stance suggest, the Roadster was made for those…

THE SCOOTER SEGMENT HAS BEEN BOOMING. Almost every manufacturer in India has at least one scooter in the market. While in most cases scooters are known for their practicality, over the years, this segment has been divided further into various small segments. One such is the performance-oriented scooter segment which was introduced with the Kinetic Blaze, however now ruled by the TVS Ntorq 125. This change was seen with the rise of budding enthusiasts getting their very first two-wheeler that isn’t as boring-looking as a mother’s daily commuter. Manufacturers have been trying to introduce something in this dogfight and the latest entrant is the Suzuki Avenis. Well, the Avenis is essentially an Access 125 underneath with bodywork that’s designed to be more youth-friendly and demands a premium of Rs 3,900.…

BIG SCOOTERS ARE SOMETHING I FANCY. TRAFFIC being what it is, an automatic transmission vehicle seems to help my hypertensive self relax and let my mind be free of control of at least two things: clutch and shifter operation. Of course, with 15 hp or less being the only options thus far on a fair budget, is there a need for a more powerful choice, albeit for a far greater amount? After all, there’s no need to compromise on power if one can truly afford the hefty price tag that comes with it. The BMW C 400 GT is only the fourth big scoot after the largest scooter in the world and the only one with a V-twin, the 76-hp Aprilia SRV850, the briefly-sold Honda Forza 300, the launched-but-barely-sold-or-seen 22Kymco…

‘Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end’, sang Mary Hopkin in the late 1960s and, apparently, for a certain group of distinguished gentlemen, they never will. Enter the Vintage Zoroastrian Bikers of Bombay (VZBB), an informal club founded by Farrokhi Bengali, owner of an impressive array of British and German motorcycles from what can only be called the good old days of motorcycling. I had the good fortune of being invited to one of their Sunday-morning rides and this is what I learned. The group has around 80 of the finest and best restored machines in the country, running exactly the way they were designed to more than half a century ago. It is also worth mentioning that there are less than a handful of knowledgeable…

ROYAL ENFIELD’S RE-ENTRY into circuit racing was received well throughout the past season by racers, spectators, and journalists alike. Bright red retro race motorcycles tearing around the new Kari Motor Speedway were a treat for the spectators’ eyes and ears. With talented racers in the competition, we got to witness some splendid racing and close finishes. Into the final round, Anish Shetty (Hubli) was the title favourite because he had won a total of five races until then and had 50 points to his credit, five more than Allwin Xavier (Thrissur). Over the weekend, we got to see various strategies in play. For example, Shetty barely rode a handful of laps during the practice sessions, presumably saving his tyres. Of course, the top riders also followed suit and came in…